PlayStation Users Report New Online License Checks For Digital Games
PlayStation users have reported a new online license verification system affecting digital game purchases on both PS4 and PS5. Games bought after March 2026 now require users to connect to the PlayStation Network every 30 days to verify their licenses, or the titles become unplayable. Without the required check-in, the games are locked and inaccessible until an internet connection is reestablished.
The requirement was introduced through recent system updates, though it remains unclear whether Sony intended this as a feature or if it represents a bug. On PS4, the Game Information menu displays a timer indicating when the next online verification is required. PS5 users initially believed their console was unaffected since no visible timer appears, but testing has since confirmed that the license verification system operates on PS5 as well—it simply doesn’t display the countdown to users.
The change impacts players with unreliable internet connections or extended outages, effectively preventing offline access to digitally purchased titles. Notably, physical game copies are unaffected by this requirement. Games purchased before March 2026 currently remain exempt from the 30-day check-in system.
Sony has not yet publicly addressed the implementation, leaving players uncertain about the company’s intentions and whether this represents a permanent policy shift or a technical issue requiring correction. The reports have sparked broader concerns about digital game preservation and ownership rights in an increasingly online gaming landscape.